Time Out! Devotions

Romans 5:1-6 (NIV)

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Paul used a beautiful phrase to describe the believer’s position in Christ: “We have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand . . . ” (Romans 5:2, emphasis added). This is no puddle of mercy that barely wets the toes, but rather a mighty ocean. The Lord’s kindness wraps around us without regard for our worth or merit.

God’s grace is an essential concept for believers to understand. He freely offers His favor to mankind because Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross purchased forgiveness and salvation for anyone who believes. However, many people think they are enjoying God’s kindness when what they are really trying to do is earn it. If we have to purchase, merit, or work for grace, then it is not a gift. The Lord is very clear that works cannot save us—in fact, He compares our good deeds to filthy rags (Ephesians 2:8-9; Isaiah 64:6).

On the other hand, grace is not a license to sin or to be lazy; Christians are called upon to serve the Lord every day. From the outside, it is usually impossible to distinguish between works and service in someone else’s life. But God knows the heart’s motivation. He accepts for His glory those things we do to show Him our love and to express appreciation for His countless blessings.

Dear Friend, serving God in order to earn His favor or to ensure that He continues to bless you amounts to thwarting grace. You can do nothing to deserve the Lord’s kindness! He pours it upon believers freely so that each one is standing in a full measure of grace.

(by Dr. Charles Stanley from the January 2010 issue of In Touch devotional magazine)

“I am comforted by this truth, that when we suffer and die for Christ it only means that we will begin living with Him in Heaven. And if we think that our present service for Him is hard, just remember that some day we are going to sit with Him and rule with Him. But if we give up when we suffer, and turn against Christ, then He must turn against us. Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, He remains faithful to us and will help us, for He cannot disown us who are part of Himself, and He will always carry out His promises to us.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13 – The Living Bible)

Jesus will stay by our side even when we have endured so much that we seem to have no faith left. We may be faithless at times, but Jesus remains faithful to His promise to be with us always, “even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:38-39).

God is faithful to His children, and although we may suffer great hardships here, He promises that someday we will live eternally with Him. What will this involve? It means believers will live in Christ’s Kingdom, and that we will share in the administration of that Kingdom. This was Paul’s comfort as he went through suffering and death, and it can be ours, too.

Are you facing hardships? Don’t turn away from God — He promises you a wonderful future with Him. For more about living eternally with God, see Matthew 16:24-27; 19:28-29; Luke 22: 28-30; Romans 5:17; 6:8; 8:10-11; 8:17; 1 Corinthians 15:42-58; Colossians 3:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:21; 21:1-22:21.

(from the Life Application Bible – Living Bible edition)

“Follow God’s example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father. Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ’s love for you was like sweet perfume to Him.”

Ephesians 5:1-2

Just as children imitate their parents, we should imitate Christ. His great love for us led Him to sacrifice himself so that we might live. Our love for others should be of the same kind — a love that goes beyond affection to self-sacrificing service.

“So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise; make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to.”

Ephesians 5:15-17

By saying, “these are difficult days,” Paul communicates his sense of urgency because of evil’s pervasiveness. We need the same sense of urgency because our days are also difficult. We must keep our standards high, act wisely, and do good whenever we can. It is not enough to know what God wants us to do; we must also do it. We must follow our beliefs with actions.

“Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 5:20

When you feel down, you may find it difficult to give thanks. Take heart — God works all things out for our good if we love Him and are fitting into His plans (Romans 8:28). Thank God, not for your problems, but for the strength He is building in you through the difficult experiences of your life. You can be sure that God’s perfect love will see you through.

(from the Life Application Bible – Living Bible edition)

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (NIV)

⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Paul reminds us that though we may be at the end of our rope, we are never at the end of hope. Our perishable bodies are subject to sin and suffering, but God never abandons us. Because Christ won victory over death, we have eternal life. All our risks, humiliations, and trials are opportunities to demonstrate Christ’s power and presence in us.

Paul faced sufferings, trials, and distress as he preached the Good News, but he knew that they would one day be over and he would obtain God’s great blessings. As we face great troubles, it’s easy to focus on the pain rather than on our ultimate goal. Just as athletes concentrate on the finish line and ignore their discomfort, we too must focus on the reward for our faith and the joy that lasts forever. No matter what happens to us in this life, we have the assurance of eternal life where all suffering will end.

It is easy to quit. We all have faced problems in our relationships or work that caused us to want to lay down the tools and walk away. Rather than giving up, however, Paul concentrated on developing his inner strength. Don’t let fatigue, pain, or criticism force you off the job. Renew your commitment to serving Christ. Don’t forsake your eternal reward because of the intensity of today’s pain. Your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment.

Our troubles should not diminish our faith or disillusion us. Instead, we should realize that there is a purpose in our  suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits: (1) they help us remember Christ’s suffering for us; (2) they help keep us from pride; (3) they help us look beyond this brief life; (4) they prove our faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate His great power. Don’t resent your troubles – see them as opportunities!

(from the Life Application Bible – Living Bible edition)